George Mason (7-1) at George Washington (5-2)
WHEN: Tuesday, December 3, at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center; Washington, D.C.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), George Washington (13-18, 6-12 A-10)  
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The George Mason women's basketball team will cross the river to play their first conference game of the season against regional rival, George Washington.

The Patriots and Revolutionaries are 17-30 historically, with both teams excelling on their home courts. George Mason is 4-2 over George Washington in their last six matchups, since head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis and her staff took over in the 2021-22 season.
 
This game is one of two Atlantic 10 women's basketball games that give a sneak-peak at the A-10 conference season. The past two seasons, the A-10 has selected four teams to play a conference game in early December before concluding their non-conference seasons. Also playing on Tuesday evening are La Salle and Loyola Chicago.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots is scoring so far this season, averaging 18.3 ppg and 11.1 ppg, respectively.
• Harris was named A-10 Player of the Week for the week of November 25, 2024 after averaging 25.5 ppg on 51% shooting, 5.5 RPG, 3.5 apg, and 2.0 spg that week
• The Patriots debuted at #45 in the NET rankings this season - their highest ranking in program history
• Two of the Patriots first four wins came against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in the last two years: Monmouth and Marshall.
• George Mason is currently in the "Next Four Out" group per ESPN's Bracketology.
• The Patriots have only ever started the season 6-0 twice: last year and this year. In both instances, the team's first loss came to Maryland.
• Mason returns ten letter winners and three starters from last season's squad, including captains Paula Suárez and Nalani Kaysia, last year's A-10 Rookie of the Year Zahirah Walton, and preseason third team selections Ta'Viyanna Habib and Kennedy Harris.
• The Patriots welcome four newcomers, including two transfers, to the roster: Khamya McNeal (Stetson/Syracuse) and Louis Volker (Missouri State).
• The freshman class includes Sarah Oduro and LeAire Nicks.
• Mason returns three of its top five scorers from a season ago: Zahirah Walton (11.3), Ta'Viyanna Habib (10.0), and Kennedy Harris (9.4).
• Kaysia also returns after sitting out last year due to medical reasons.
• Last season, the Patriots posted their first 20+ win season since 2017-18 when the team went 24-10.
• Prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, Mason was chosen to finish third out of 15 teams in the conference, their highest preseason pick since joining the Atlantic 10.

 
SCOUTING THE REVOLUTIONARIES
George Washington University finished the regular season last year 13-18 and earned the No. 10 spot in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament after going 6-12 in conference play. The Revolutionaries fell in the second round to No. 7 Saint Louis, 68-75. So far, in out-of-conference play, George Washington is 5-2, only dropping games to Howard and Ohio University.
 
Two players are currently averaging double figures in scoring for the Revolutionaries, led by graduate student Makayla Andrews, who earned Second Team All-Patriot League honors last year. She averages 12.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Freshman Gabby Reynolds is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game. She leads the team in steals with 11.
 
Another notable player is All-America East First Team member Mariona Planes Fortuny, who averages 5.9 rebounds per game and 7.3 points. Sophomore forward Sara Lewis leads the team in rebounds, averaging 7.3 per game, along with 8.3 points and 1.3 assists per game.
 
As a team, George Washington currently averages the best field goal percentage defense in the Atlantic 10 conference (33.2%). They also lead the conference in defensive rebounds per game (31.4) and are ranked fifth in offensive rebounds (14.1). The revolutionaries also lead the conference in free throw attempts per game (21.57).
 
UP NEXT
George Mason finishing out this road swing with a trip to Georgetown on Tuesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Big East Digital Network and a radio broadcast will be available on the GoMason Digital Network.